I'm thinking of becoming a endocrinologist

[type1db]

I'm thinking about about going back to school to become a endo. Would anybody see any pros or cons to a diabetic wanting to be an endocrinologist?

[amccrazgrl]

I would think it should be a pro since you'll understand the in's and out's of living with diabetes. Then again if your really good at keeping yourself healthy your patients could get annoyed at how well you do if they suck at taking care of themseleves.
I say its all positive.
Whats it take to be an endo?

[type1db]

I'm hoping just med school and then specialize with endo doctors.

[Keezheekoni]

Typically, if you already have a 4 year baccalaureate degree and are accepted to med school... it'll be 4 years of med school. After that it'll be 3 years of residency and another 3 years of fellowship, then you can sit for the boards. Actually you'll be an endocrinologist after the 3 years of residency, but not board certified until after you take and pass the boards, and I believe you need the fellowship to qualify to take them.... If I'm wrong about that, someone here will correct me! :D

Good luck with it! There are a lot of endos who are diabetic. :D

[notme]

I think it is a wonderful occupation for a diabetic. Good luck and let us know how it goes!

[HelenM]

I'm sure that some diabetics make very good endocrinologists. Just for balance though, I'll add another point of view. This is a quote from a retired rheumotologist who is also a type 1 (from Diabetes stories) My addition in brackets.
I'd actually wondered about specialising in diabetes and one of the people I was working with was Wilfred Oakley.. He was on the staff at Kings College. diabetic unit.........(where the consultant was RD Lawrence , a diabetic who was at the time a world famous diabetologist) He said and I sometimes wonder if it was because of his close association with RD Lawrence. He said that it was a bad thing to specialise in a disease which one had oneself, because one was to close to it to be able to be objective. Looking back , he was probably right , though at the time I didn't think so.

[Noturningback]

Dr. Bernstein did well in the field of endocrinology. :D

~Danielle

[stlduckhunter]

My endocrinologist is diabetic and a pumper. In fact his entire family is diabetic. I have had three endocrinologists and he clearly is the one that can relate to patients at a very high level. I have a great deal of confidence in both his abilities and him personally. It is a great relationship. In fact I drive over an hour out of my way to go to him.

[orpy]

Go for it...as long as you are young and have the time...

You don't have to ask anyone...what's in your heart? It would have to be a burning desire because it's a long haul...

[type1db]

I just got married about two weeks ago. My wife has decided to go get her teaching license. In Mississippi if you have any 4 year degree you can become a teacher after taking the praxis test.

When she gets on as a teacher, I'm going to quit my job and go back to school full time. I will have to keep a part time job. My worry is that I will not have the money to make it to med school. I thought about making an RN. I have already got my basics out of the way. After becoming a RN I could shoot for nurse practitioner (NP).

After the extra income, I could slow down and start med school.

[Mich]

I think it sounds like a good idea. I know several people (2 endos) who are diabetics. They have a perspective that nobody else has. It is like a calling to them (Helen's remarks have validity--it may become consuming.)

My best care has been from several professionals, 50% of them were/are diabetics. All of them TELL IT LIKE IT IS because they personally know.

It's a long hard road, like Rikki pointed out. If you find you don't have the time (family & life gets in the way) consider being a NP with a CDE. It's always good to have a fall-back plan and we need all of the knowledgeable diabetic diabetic specialists we can get.

Best of Luck,

Mich

[notme]

I think if you are committed, you will make it and do great. It may take you longer, but if you really want it, you will make one heck of and endo. Good for you!

[type1db]

thanks guys. I'm gonna start small and shoot for the RN, then NP. Then I will see what happens. Thanks for all of you guy's support. I so glad I found this forum! ;)

[Funnygrl]

I actually believe it breaks down like this:

4 years bachelor degree
1 years internship
6-7 years residency (in family medicine)
then however long fellowship in endocrinology

[type1db]

man, I thought my endocrinologist was young....

[Funnygrl]

I promise you, it takes a lot of wok to become an RN also. That's not "starting small." Nursing school can be hard to get into. I've heard that the national average is about 15% of nursing school applicants will get in. Once in, you can expect a heavy course load on top of around 15 hours of clinical a week. It's definitely very rewarding though and fascinating. I love what I do. I'm hoping to start an NP program in January, but if not, I'm happy where I am now as well.

If your goal is to become an NP, make sure you enroll in a BSN program for your RN. You're required to have a BSN- and generally at least of year of experience as an RN- before you apply to NP school.

[type1db]

Thanks for the advice, funnygrl. Does the NP program give you a masters in nursing?

[Funnygrl]

Thanks for the advice, funnygrl. Does the NP program give you a masters in nursing?
Yes, you generally get an MSN.

[Type1Ely]

it would be awesome for you to become an endocrinologist because of obvious reasons-you have it and can relate to your patients. at my endo's office almost all of his employees have type 2 diabetes so they all understand how i feel, with the exception that i take insulin and they don't. so, good luck if you do pursue it because you'll do well

[ubiquenyc]

My endo is a type 1 diabetic since childhood and mother of two. I have been diabetic for over 30 years, have always lived in major cities and even with all of my experince with endocrinologists, this is the only one who ever made me feel like I was not failing as a diabetic. She is the first that has given advice that has made sense to me. As far as being too close to the illness - that is exactly what makes her great. Too many doctor's STILL don't get that insulin should work for me, I should not have to work to keep up with my insulin. Yes - if it is your passion - by all means go for it. Let me know when you go into practice, I'll need a backup once my doc retires! ;)

[type1db]

I will keep up with my progress on here.